Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02555762 2006-08-10
ANIMAL-RESISTANT LATCHING SYSTEM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001]
The present invention relates to latching systems and, in particular,
concerns a latching system for use with a container to inhibit access to the
interior of the
container by animals.
Description of the Related Art
[0002]
Food and food containing refuse generated by humans can attract the
attention of animals in areas adjacent to animal habitats. Animals, such as
bears, have a keen
sense of smell and can easily detect food which is stored or discarded in
containers left
outdoors such as storage lockers and refuse bins on streets or in parks.
Because these outdoor
containers are accessible and plentiful, they are an attractive source of food
for animals
compared to foraging in their natural habitat. Furthermore, once animals learn
that this
source of food is available, they may lose their wariness towards humans and
frequently
return to areas where the food was located, increasing the probability of an
animal-human
encounter.
[0003] The
attraction of animals, and bears in particular, to human populated
areas is problematic. The size and strength of some animals, bears, for
example, makes them
a potential threat to people or property they encounter while attempting to
access containers
containing food. Further, animals entering settled areas can become injured or
killed by
moving automobiles, electrical lines, and other human technologies.
[0004] Thus, to
protect people, property, and the animals themselves, it is
desirable to inhibit animals from accessing containers storing food and food
containing
refuse.
[0005]
Latches are commonly placed on containers for this purpose. However,
current latching mechanism designs are problematic. The latches can require
significant
strength or dexterity to operate, presenting difficulties for children, the
elderly, or the
handicapped. Further, these latching mechanisms may require a user to re-
engage the latch
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=
after each use. Should the user forget to re-engage the latch, the receptacle
is vulnerable to
animals.
[0006]
These deficiencies in current latch designs illustrate the need for improved
animal-resistant latches which are easy to use and mechanically robust while
reducing the
potential for user error.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The
aforementioned needs are satisfied by the animal-resistant latching
system of the present invention which, in one aspect or illustrative
embodiment, comprises an
access panel having a first and a second side, adapted to be moved between an
open and a
closed position with respect to the container. In this aspect, the latching
system further
comprises an opening formed between the first and second sides.
[0008] In
one aspect, the preferred embodiments of the present invention provide
an animal resistant latching system for use with a container to inhibit access
to the interior of
the container by animals, the latching system. The system comprises an access
panel having a
first and a second side and an opening formed between the first and second
sides where the
access panel is adapted to be moved between an open and a closed position with
respect to the
container. The system further comprises at least one latching member that is
movable
between a latched position and an unlatched position, where the at least one
latChing member
is coupled to the access panel at a location and where the at least one
latching member
inhibits movement of the access panel to thereby inhibit access to the
container in the latched
position and where the at least one latching member permits movement of the
access panel to
thereby allow access to the container in the unlatched position. The system
additionally
comprises a cam assembly having a lever, where the cam assembly is mounted to
the first side
of the access panel and where the cam assembly is coupled to the at least one
latching
member such that movement of the cam assembly results in movement of the at
least one
latching member between the latched and unlatched positions and where the
lever is
positioned so as to be accessible through the opening in the cover so as to
allow a person to
move the cam assembly so as to urge the at least one latching member from the
latched
position to an unlatched position. The system also comprises a cover that is
mounted on the
second side of the access panel so as to cover the opening in the access
panel, where the cover
has side walls that extend outward from the plane of the second side of the
access panel and
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an outer surface that interconnects the side walls so as to define a space
positioned above the
opening in the access panel where the cover defines a cover opening that perm
ts access into
the space defined by the cover and also to the lever of the cam assembly via
tie opening in
the access panel where the cover opening is dimensioned so as to permit a
human hand access
to the lever via the opening in the access panel to manipulate the at least
one latching member
from the latched position to the unlatched position and is further dimensioned
so as to inhibit
an animal from accessing the lever to manipulate the at least one latching
mernber from the
latched position into the unlatched position. The system further comprises a
bracket
positioned on the second side of the access panel adjacent the cover opening,
where the
bracket extends outward from the second surface of the panel and where the
bracket is spaced
from the cover opening a distance that is selected to permit human access to
the cover
opening but inhibit access by animals.
[0009] In
another aspect, the preferred embodiments of the present invention
provide a bear resistant latching system for use with a container to inhibit
access to the
interior of the container by bears, the latching system. The system comprises
an access panel
having a first and a second side and an opening formed between the first and
second sides,
where the access panel is adapted to be moved between an open and a closed
position with
respect to the container. The system also comprises at least one latching
member that is
movable between a latched position and an unlatched position, where the at
least one latching
member is coupled to the access panel at a location and where the at least one
latching
member inhibits movement of the access panel to thereby inhibit access to the
container in the
latched position and where the at least one latching member permits movement
of the access
panel to thereby allow access to the container in the unlatched position. The
system further
comprises a rotatable cam assembly having a lever, where the rotatable cam
assembly is
mounted to the first side of the access panel and where the rotatable cam
assembly is coupled
to the at least one latching member such that rotation of the cam assembly
results in
movement of the at least one latching member between the latched and unlatched
positions
and where the lever is positioned so as to be accessible through the opening
in ti e cover so as
to allow a person to move the rotatable cam assembly so as to urge the at leas
one latching
member from the latched position to an unlatched position. The syste
additionally
comprises a cover that is mounted on the second side of the access panel so a.
to cover the
opening in the access panel, where the cover has side walls that extend out
ard from the
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'
f
plane of the second side of the access panel and an outer surface that
intercon ects the side
walls so as to define a space positioned above the opening in the access panel
nd where the
cover defines a cover opening that permits access into the space defined by
the over and also
to the lever of the rotatable cam assembly via the opening in the access panel
and where the
cover opening is dimensioned so as to permit a human hand access to the lever
via the
opening in the access panel to manipulate the at least one latching member
froin the latched
position to the unlatched position and is further dimensioned so as to inhibit
a bear from
accessing the lever to manipulate the at least one latching member from the
latched position
into the unlatched position.
[0010] In a further
aspect, the preferred embodiments of the present invention
provide a bear resistant latching system for use with a container to inhibit
access to the
interior of the container by bears, the latching system. The system comprises
a container
defining an interior accessible through a container mouth possessing a
plurality of edges
bordered by a container mouth frame. The system also comprises an access panel
comprising
a first side, a second side, an access panel opening formed between the first
and second sides,
a reinforced edge at the periphery of the access panel, and a hinge, whore the
hinge
interconnects the access panel to the container, allowing the access panel to
pivOt between an
opened and closed position with respect to the container. The system
additionally comprises
at least one latching member, mounted to the first side of the access panel,
adjacent to the
reinforced edge, where the at least one latching member comprises a latch bolt
which passes
through a latch bolt housing and where the latch bolt is moveable between a
latched position
and an unlatched position where the latch bolt inhibits movement of the access
panel to
thereby inhibit access to the container in the latched position and where the
at least one
latching member permits movement of the access panel to thereby allow access
to the
container in the unlatched position. The system further comprises an actuator
mounted to the
first side of the access panel, where the actuator is coupled to the at least
one latching
member such that movement of the actuator results in movement of the at least
one latching
member between the latched and unlatched positions and where the actuator is
positioned so
as to be accessible through the opening in the cover so as to allow a person
to move the
actuator so as to urge the at least one latching member from the latched
position to an
unlatched position. The system also comprises a cover that is mounted on the
second side of
the access panel so as to cover the opening in the access panel, where the
cover has side walls
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. .
that extend outward from the plane of the second side of the access panel and
a outer surface
that interconnects the side walls so as to define a space positioned above the
pening in the
access panel and where the cover defines a cover opening that permits access
nto the space
defined by the cover and also to the actuator via the opening in the access
panel and where the
cover opening is dimensioned so as to permit a human hand access to the
actuator via the
opening in the access panel to manipulate the at least one latching member
from the latched
position to the unlatched position and is further dimensioned so as to inhibit
a bear from
accessing the actuator to manipulate the at least one latching member from the
latched
position into the unlatched position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011]
These and other aspects and advantages will become more apparent from
the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
[0012]
Figures 1A-1B illustrate perspective views of a container equipped with
one embodiment of an animal resistant latching system in the opened and closed
position;
.1
[0013]
Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the animal resistant latching
system of Figure 1;
[0014]
Figures 3A-3B illustrate front and rear views of the animal resistant
latching system of Figure 1 operated by a human hand; and
[0015] Figure 4
presents a side view of the animal resistant latching system of
Figure 1, illustrating one embodiment of the predetermined dimensions of the
latching system
which inhibit access of the lever by bears.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016]
Some embodiments of the present invention relate to an animal-resistant
latch directed towards inhibiting the access of bears to food containing
receptacles. However,
the embodiments of the invention may be applied to inhibiting the access of
animals in
general to containers. 1
1
[0017] Figures 1A-1B
illustrate a perspective view of one embo iment of an
animal-resistant latching system 100 in open and closed positions. Generally,
t e system 100
is adaptable for use with a container 102 in order to inhibit an animal from
acces1sing the
1
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contents of the container 102. Such containers may include, but are not
limited to,
campground food storage boxes and outdoor trash receptacles, including
business and
household receptacles. The latching system 100 includes an access panel 104,
at least one
latching member 112, an actuator 114, a cover 116, and a bracket 120.
[0018] As shown
in Figure 1A, the access panel 104 is comprised of a first side
122a, a second side 122b, an access panel opening 124, a reinforced edge 126,
and a hinge
130. The reinforced edge 126 is formed from a plurality of bends at the
periphery of the
access panel 104, in a direction generally parallel to the plane of the first
side 122a of the
access panel. A first segment 132a of the reinforced edge 126 extends outward
from the
plane of the first side 122a of the access panel 104. A second segment 132b of
the reinforced
edge 126 extends outward from the first segment 132a towards the center of the
access panel
104 in a direction generally parallel to the plane of the first side 122a of
the access panel. As
illustrated in Figure 1B, the access panel 104 is preferably dimensioned to
span a container
mouth 134 such that the first segment 132a of the reinforced edge 126 of the
access panel 104
lies substantially adjacent to a container mouth frame 134 when the access
panel 104 is in the
closed position. In the particular embodiment of Figures 1A-1B, the container
mouth 132 and
the access panel 104 are configured in a generally rectangular shape. However,
the access
panel 104 may be configured to span a container mouth 132 of arbitrary shape,
such as a
circle or oval.
[0019] The
reinforcing edge 126 is designed to work in concert with a container
102 so as to inhibit an animal, such as a bear, from accessing the food
container 102. The
distance separating the first segment 132a of the reinforced edge 126 and the
container mouth
frame 134 when the access panel 104 is in the closed position is predetermined
to be less than
the width of an animal claw, such as that of a bear. Additionally, the length
of the first
segment 132a of the reinforced edge 126 is dimensioned so as to be longer than
the length of
an animal claw, such as that of a bear. Advantageously, this design inhibits
an animal from
inserting their claws between the reinforced edge 126 of the access panel 104
and the
container mouth frame 136 in order to pry open the access panel 104 from the
closed position.
Furthermore, the reinforced edge 126 acts to strengthen the edges of the panel
104, further
inhibiting an animal attempting to access the container 102 from substantially
deforming the
access panel 104.
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[0020]
The access panel opening 124 illustrated in Figures 1A-1B is also formed
between the first and second sides 122a and 122b of the access panel 104. In
the embodiment
of Figures 1A-1B, the access panel opening 124 possesses a generally
rectangular shape.
Further, the opening 124 is sized so as allow access of at least a portion of
a human hand
through the access panel 104 to the actuator 114 as described in further
detail with respect to
Figure 4.
[0021]
Figure 1A also illustrates the hinge 130. The hinge 130 is positioned at a
first edge 140a of the access panel 104, allowing the access panel 104 to be
moved between
the open and closed positions. In the embodiment of Figure 1, the hinge 130
comprises a
hinge pin 144 configured to mount within the container mouth frame 134 in a
manner
allowing the access panel 104 pivot about the hinge pin 144. In this manner,
the access panel
104 may be moved between the opened position to permit access to the container
102 and the
closed position to inhibit access to the container 102. Advantageously, the
hinge pin 144 of
the hinge 130 is recessed within the container mouth frame 134, substantially
protecting the
hinge 130 from animal attack or environmental damage, enhancing the robustness
of the
latching system 100.
[0022]
In the particular embodiment of Figures 1A-1B, the access panel 104 is
mounted so as to cover the container mouth 134 which is positioned on the side
of a container
102. In an alternative implementation, the access panel 104 may also be
mounted on a
container 102 possessing a top facing container mouth 134 to inhibit access to
an animal.
[0023]
Figure 1B shows the second side 122b of the access panel 104, illustrating
the cover 116 and bracket 120. The cover 116 comprises cover sidewalls 146 and
an outer
surface 150. The sidewalls 146 extend outward from the plane of the second
side 122b of the
access panel 104 and the outer surface 150 interconnects with the sidewalls
146 so as to
define a space 152 positioned above the access panel opening 124. The cover
116 further
defines a cover opening 154 that permits access to a space 152 defined by the
cover 116 and
also to the cam assembly 114. The bracket 120 comprises a first face 156a and
a second face
156b. The second face 156a of the bracket 120 is interconnected to the second
face 122b of
the access panel 104 in a position such that the first face 156a of the
bracket 120 faces
opposite the cover opening 154. In one implementation, the cover 116 and
bracket 120 are
formed by stamping metal, such as steel, into the above-described shape. As
will be
described in greater detail below with respect to Figure 4, the dimension and
spacing of the
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cover 116 and bracket 120 are predetermined in order to allow access to the
access panel
opening 124 by a human hand but inhibit such access by the paw of an animal,
such as a bear.
[0024]
The animal resistant latching system 100 is latched and unlatched by use of
the latching members 112 in conjunction with the actuator 114. One embodiment
of the one
latching members 112 is presented in Figure 1A. As will be described in
greater detail below,
the latching members 112 are movable between a latched position, wherein the
members 112
inhibit movement of the access panel 104 in order to deny access to a
container interior 158,
and an unlatched position, wherein the latching members 112 allow movement of
the access
panel 104 for access into the container interior 158. Beneficially, the
latching members 112,
in this embodiment, are configured to return to the latched position when the
access panel 104
is closed in a manner to be discussed below in reference to Figure 2. As a
result, an
individual who opens the access panel 104 does not need to manually re-engage
the latching
members 112 in the latched position upon closing the access panel 104,
ensuring that the
access panel 104 is latched when moved to the closed position.
[0025] As
illustrated in Figures 1 A and 2, the latching members 112 comprise a
latch bolt 160 which passes through a generally elongated latch bolt housing
162 which is
attached to the first side 122a of the access panel 104, adjacent to the
reinforced edge 126. A
first end 164a of the latch bolt 160 possesses a contour 166 which is tapered
from a first face
170a of the latching member 112 to a second face 170b, ending in a flange 168.
This tapered
first end 164a of the latch bolt 160 facilitates the return of the latching
members 112 to the
latched position when the access panel 104 is closed in a manner that will be
described below
in reference to the cam assembly 114 of Figure 2. A second end 164b of the
latch bolt 160 is
configured for attachment to the actuator 114 which moves the latching members
112 from
the latched to unlatched position in a process also to be described in more
detail with further
reference to the cam assembly 114 in Figure 2.
[0026]
The latching members 112 are positioned on the first side 122a of the
access panel 104, adjacent to the reinforced edge 126. The latch bolt housing
162 acts to
guide the motion of the latch bolt 160, which extends outward from the latch
bolt housing
162, substantially perpendicular to the reinforced edge 126 of the access
panel 104 through a
gap 172 in the reinforced edge 126. As illustrated in Figure 1A, in the
latched position, the
latching members 112 extend beyond the reinforced edge 126 and engage striker
plate holes
174 within the container mouth frame 134 when in the latched position,
inhibiting movement
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of the access panel 104. In the unlatched position, the latching members 112
are retracted
within the reinforced edge 126 of the access panel 104 so as to allow movement
of the panel
104 within the container mouth frame 136.
[0027]
More specifically, the latching members 112 are further positioned
opposite the hinge 130 adjacent to a second edge 140b of the access panel 104.
An opening
force exerted at this location, approximately perpendicular to the plane of
the access panel
104, results in a high torque with which to open the access panel 104.
Therefore, placing the
latching members 112 in this location inhibits this location from being used
to apply the
opening force. An opening force applied at an alternative location, closer to
the hinge 130,
will need to be greater than the force applied at the second edge 140b of the
access panel 104
to generate the same torque. In this fashion, the access panel 104 is made
more difficult to
open when the latching members 112 are latched, enhancing the security
provided by the
animal resistant latching system 100.
[0028]
In one aspect of the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in
Figures 1A-1B, two latching members 112 are utilized in the latching system
100 at lateral
sides of the panel 104 adjacent the edge opposite the hinge 130. As the number
of latching
members 112 is increased, the opening force required to open the access panel
104 without
unlatching the latching members 112 is increased. This design allows the
construction of the
latching system 100 to be varied depending on the nature of the animal threat.
Fewer of the
latching members 112 may be used in environments where the animals attempting
to access
the container 102 are relatively weak. More of the latching members 112 may be
used in
environments where the animals attempting to access the container 102 are
relatively strong,
such as bears.
[0029]
Furthermore, incorporation of the two latching members 112 adjacent to
the second edge 140b of the access panel 104 allows the latching members 112
to work in
conjunction with the hinge 130 to enhance the security provided by the
latching system 100.
As illustrated in Figure 1A, the latching members 112 and hinge 130 are
located near the
corners of the access panel 104. The hinge pin 144 is secured within the
container mouth
frame 134, while the latch bolts 160, when in the latched position, are
secured within the
striker plate holes 174 when the access panel 104 is in the closed position.
Thus, the four
corners of the access panel 104 are secured in place when the two latching
members 112 are
latched and the access panel 104 is in the closed position. Advantageously, in
this secured
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state, none of the reinforced edges 126 of the access panel 104 are more
vulnerable to forced
opening by an animal than any other, enhancing the security of the latching
system 100.
[0030]
Figure 2 illustrates an exploded view of the actuator 114 in communication
with the latching members 112. In one embodiment, the actuator 114 may
comprise a cam
assembly 114. In a preferred embodiment, the actuator may comprise a rotatable
cam
assembly 114. As will be described in detail below, actuation of the rotatable
cam assembly
114 retracts the latching members 112 to the unlatched position, allowing
access into the
container 102. Releasing the rotatable cam assembly 114 returns the rotatable
cam assembly
114 and the latching members 112 back to their original, latched position. The
rotatable cam
assembly 114 comprises a rotatable cam body 176, a pivot pin 180, a lever 182,
at least one
cam arm 184, and a plurality of washers 186.
[0031]
The rotatable cam body 176 comprises a planar, generally circular cam
central body 190 possessing a first side 192a and a second side 192b. A pivot
hole 194 and a
plurality of cam body arm holes 196 are formed between the first and second
sides 192a and
192b of the rotatable cam body 176. As discussed below in greater detail with
respect to
Figure 2, the pivot hole 194 is roughly centered within the cam central body
190 to allow
insertion of the pivot pin 180, while the plurality of cam body arm holes 196
are positioned
about the pivot hole 194 at approximately 45 degrees with respect to the plane
of the lever
182 in order to provide an attachment point for two cam arms 184. The cam
central body 190
is interconnected to a generally rectangular cam body extension plate 202 at a
cam body first
end 204. The lever 182 is interconnected to a first edge 206 of the cam body
extension plate
202 and extends outward from the first side 192a of the rotatable cam body 176
towards the
opening 124 in the access panel 122. In one implementation, the rotatable cam
body 176 is
formed of stamped metal, such as steel.
[0032] The
pivot pin 180 comprises a generally elongated, cylindrical pivot pin
body 208 possessing a first end 210a and a second end 210b. The first end 210a
of the pivot
pin 180 is fixedly attached to the first side 122a of the access panel 104,
whereby the pivot
pin 180 extends outward from the plane of the access panel 104. The position
of the pivot pin
180 is designed to orient the lever 182 at a predetermined position with
respect to the access
panel opening 124, as discussed in greater detail with respect to Figure 4.
The second end
210b of the pivot pin 180 possesses a cam body securing mechanism 212 for
restraining the
motion of the rotatable cam body 176, as discussed below.
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[0033]
The rotatable cam body 176 is mounted to the access panel 104 using the
pivot pin 180. The second end 210b of the pivot pin 180 is inserted through
the pivot hole
194 from the first side 192a of the rotatable cam body 176 and the rotatable
cam body 176 is
placed at rest on the pivot pin body 208. The plurality of washers 186 is
interposed between
the access panel 104 and the rotatable cam body 176, on the pivot pin 180, to
position the
lever 182 at a predetermined position with respect to the access panel opening
124, as
discussed below in reference to Figure 4. The rotatable cam body 176 is
secured in place on
the pivot pin 180 by the rotatable cam body securing mechanism 212 on the
second end 210b
of the pivot pin 180. The rotatable cam body securing mechanism 212 may
include, but is not
limited to, a thread and nut. In this manner, the rotatable cam body 176 is
supported and
allowed to pivot freely by the pivot pin body 208, while being restrained from
removal from
the pivot pin 180 once the rotatable cam body securing mechanism 212 is
engaged.
[0034]
The cam arms 184 connect the rotatable cam body 176 and the latching
members 112. The cam arms 184 are generally rectangular, possessing a first
side 214a and a
second side 214b, a first end 216a and a second end 216b. The cam arms 184 are
preferably
dimensioned so as to span the distance between the latching members 112 and
the rotatable
cam body 176. A first and a second cam arm holes 220a and 220b are formed
between the
first and second sides 214a and 214b of the cam arms 184 at the first and
second ends 216a
and 216b, respectively. A rivet 222 is inserted within a first cam arm hole
220a at the first
end 216a of the cam arms 184 and a cam body arm hole 196 to attach the
retractable cam
body 176 to the cam arms 184. As illustrated in the embodiment of Figure 2,
the second end
216b of the cam arms 184 is attached to the latch bolt 160 by a latch bolt pin
224. The latch
bolt pin 224 is connected to the second end 164b of the latch bolt 160,
extending outward
from the plane of the latch bolt 160, and is inserted into the second cam arm
hole 220b. A
cam arm locking pin 226 is inserted into a first end 230 of the latch bolt pin
224 through a
latch bolt pin hole 232. Both cam arms 184 are similarly attached to the
rotatable cam body
176 in this fashion.
[0035]
Figures 3A-3B illustrate the unlatching operation of the latching system
100, performed by a single human hand 234. As shown in Figure 3A, the hand 234
is
extended with a palm 236 facing the cover opening 154. Fingers 240 of the hand
234 are
curled towards the cover opening 154 and inserted into the cover opening 154
until contact is
made between the fingers 240 and the lever 182. As illustrated in Figure 3B,
an upward
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motion of the fingers 240 against the lever 182 causes the rotatable cam body
176 to rotate
about the pivot pin 180. This rotation causes the rotatable cam body 176 to
pull the cam arms
184 towards the rotatable cam body 176, which in turn retracts the latching
members 112.
The retraction at the latching members 112 continues in response to the upward
motion
applied to the lever 182 until the flange 168 on the second face 170b of the
latch bolts 160
contact the latch bolt housing 162. In this position, the latching members 112
are in the
unlatched position and the access panel 104 may be moved to the open position.
[0036]
Once unlatched, the hand 234 moves access panel 104 to the opened
position to gain access to the container interior 158. The hand 234 is removed
from the cover
opening 154 once the container 102 is opened. In one advantage, the latching
members 112
may be unlatched with a single hand. In another advantage, attachment of the
cam arms 184
to the cam central body 190 about the pivot hole 194 at an angle of
approximately 45 degrees
with respect to the plane of the lever 182 provides a large motion of the cam
arms 184 for a
comparatively small upward hand motion. These features enhance the ease of
operation the
rotatable cam assembly 114 and allow persons possessing reduced strength or
dexterity to
open the animal resistant latching system 100 and access the container
interior 158.
[0037]
In a further advantage, the animal resistant latching system 100 may be
unlatched by people who become locked within the container 102 without
assistance from the
first side of the access panel 104. This functionality is achieved by exposing
the lever 182 to
the first side 122a of the access panel 104. In this manner, the lever 182 may
be lifted from
within the container interior 158 just as the lever 182 is lifted by users
from outside the
container 102 to unlatch the latching system 100 and open the access panel
104.
[0038]
The rotatable cam assembly 114 is returned to its latched state by a biasing
member 242 when the fingers 240 are removed from the lever 182. The biasing
member 242,
mounted within the latch bolt housing 162, acts to bias the latching member
112 in the
latched position. In the embodiment of Figure 2, the biasing member 242
comprises a spring
244 interconnecting the first and second ends 164a and 164b of the latch bolt
160. When
latch bolt 160 is pulled away from the reinforced edge 126 of the access panel
104 during
rotation of the rotatable cam assembly 114, the spring 244 is pulled from its
rest position.
Removal of the fingers 240 from the lever 182 removes the force pulling the
spring 244 and
allows the spring 244 to return to its rest position, returning the rotatable
cam assembly 114
and the latch bolt 160 to their latched state. Advantageously, the latching
members 112
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return to their latched state without user intervention. In an alternative
implementation, the
biasing member 242 could comprise a torsional spring interconnected to the
rotatable cam
body 176 so as to induce or bias the cam body 176 into the latched position.
[0039]
The latching members 112 further work in concert with the biasing
members 242 to reengage the latch bolt 160 upon closure of the access panel
104 from the
open position. As discussed above, when the access panel 104 is in the open
position,
without actuation of the rotatable cam assembly 114, the biasing members 242
urges the
latching members 112 into the latched position. As the access panel 104 is
moved from the
open to closed position, the contour 166 at the first end 164a of the latch
bolt 160 contacts the
container mouth frame 136. As the access panel 104 is further moved into the
closed
position, the container mouth frame 136 presses against the contour 166 of the
latch bolt 160,
forcing the latch bolt 160 away from the container mouth 134. This movement of
the latch
bolt 160 allows the access panel 104 unimpeded motion towards the closed
position. When
the access panel 104 reaches the closed position, the first end 164a of the
latch bolt 160 abuts
the striker plate holes 174 (Figure 1A) and the biasing member 242 returns the
latch bolt 160
to the latched position. Beneficially, a user is not required to remember to
re-latch the animal
resistant latching system 100 upon closing the access panel 104, enhancing the
security and
ease of use of the latching system 100.
[0040]
The size and position of the cover 116, bracket 120, as well as the
actuation of the rotatable cam body 176, in the particular implementation of
Figure 3 are
predetermined on the basis of human and animal physiology. These parameters,
illustrated in
Figure 4, are selected so as to allow access to and actuation of the cam
assembly 114 by
human hands but inhibit such access and actuation by the claws of animals. The
parameters
discussed below in respect to Figure 4 are, in particular, designed to inhibit
the access of
bears to the container 102. However, alternative embodiments of the latching
system 100
may utilize alternative parameters, selected to specifically inhibit the
access of other animals
to the container 102.
[0041]
The cover 116 is present over the access panel 104 and serves as a first
protective mechanism to inhibit access to the rotatable cam assembly 114 by
animals such as
bears. The cover 116 extends over the access panel opening 124 by a
predetermined cover
depth 252 sufficient to protect the rotatable cam assembly 114 through the
lever actuation
distance 250, as described below. In the embodiment of Figure 4, the cover
depth 252 is
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approximately 2.75 inches. The cover 116 also extends outward from second side
122b of the
access panel 104 by predetermined cover opening height 254 which is designed
to inhibit
animals such as bears, in particular, large bears, from accessing the
rotatable cam assembly
114 through the cover opening 154. This distance is selected to be less than
the width of a
typical large bear's claw but greater than the width of a typical human
finger. In this manner,
large bears are rendered physically unable to access the cam assembly 114,
while humans
may easily access the cam assembly 114. In one embodiment, the cover opening
height 154
is approximately 1 inch.
[00421
A second protection mechanism may be provided by use of the bracket
120. Bears, particularly large bears, are incapable of bending their claws
past a critical angle.
By placing a bracket 120 having a predetermined bracket height 256 adjacent to
the cover
opening 154 at a predetermined bracket offset 260, hands or claws are be
forced to bend a
predetermined access angle to access the cam assembly 114 through the cover
opening 154.
Selecting the bracket height 256 and bracket offset 260 so that the resulting
access angle is
greater than the critical angle a large bear may bend their claws but smaller
than the critical
angle a human may bend their fingers, the large bear is inhibited from
inserting their claws
within the cover opening 154, while humans may easily insert their hands
though the cover
opening 154. In one embodiment of the latching system 100, the bracket height
256 is
approximately 1 inch, while the bracket offset 260 is approximately 1.5
inches.
[0043] The
rotatable cam assembly 114 is also designed to inhibit bears from
actuating the lever 182 of the cam assembly 114 through the access panel
opening 124 but
allowing humans to easily actuate the cam assembly 114. This design is
accomplished, in one
part, by positioning the pivot pin 180 such that so that when the rotatable
cam assembly 114
is mounted, the rest position of the lever 182 is recessed from the cover
opening 154 by a
predetermined lever offset distance 246 This design is accomplished, in a
second part, by
configuring the rotatable cam assembly 114 such that the lever 182 must be
moved through at
least a predetermined lever actuation distance 250 in order to move the
latching members 112
from the latched to the unlatched position. The distances 246 and 250 are
selected to be
easily traversed by human hands but unachievable by bears, in particular,
small bears. In the
embodiment of Figure 4, the lever offset distance 246 is approximately 0.5
inches, while the
lever actuation distance 250 is at least 2.25 inches.
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CA 02555762 2006-08-10
[0044]
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the animal resistant latching
system disclosed herein provides enhanced protection from large animals. The
securing
system utilizes a multi-point coupling system to keep the access panel closed.
Further, the
edges of the access panel are designed to inhibit animals from positioning a
claw behind the
edge and bending the access panel. Moreover, the latching system itself is
designed to allow
access to humans with flexible hands but inhibit access to animals with rigid
claws.
[0045]
Although the foregoing description has shown, described, and pointed out
the fundamental novel features of the present teachings, it will be understood
that various
omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form of the detail of the
apparatus as illustrated,
as well as the uses thereof, may be made by those skilled in the art, without
departing from
the scope of the present teachings. Consequently, the scope of the present
teachings should
not be limited to the foregoing discussion, but should be defined by the
appended claims.
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